Growth of Sulphate-reducing Bacteria by Fumarate Dismutation

Abstract
Desulfovibrio gigas and several strains of D. desulfuricans grew by fumarate dismutation in a sulfate-free medium. Two strains of D. desulfuricans grown in a chemically defined medium formed succinate, malate and acetate during fumarate dismutation. Sulfate reduction by these strains, though not by D. gigas. was almost completely inhibited in presence of fumarate as alternative electron acceptor. The anomalous behavior of D. gigas was reflected to some extent by the hydrogen absorption coefficients for fumarate and sulfate reduction. Effects of fumarate media on the morphology of one strain are recorded.